Final Version Functional specification for white-label truck), D2.5 of H2020 project ENSEMBLE

This deliverable provides the definition of the requirements and specifications of the multi-brand truck platooning concept. After first publication of the requirements and specifications (Konstantinopoulou, 2018), a review towards implementation in the demonstration trucks and a preliminary safety analysis (Dhurjati, 2019) were performed. This preliminary safety analysis, revealed that the original Platooning Level A as defined in the D2.2 is ASIL D, when having the driver responsible while having time gaps of 0.8 s. For this reason, strict safety requirements were needed that were not in line with the aims of a “first” platooning level that could be deployable on short term considering the readiness level of the required technology and the existing regulatory framework. Hence, after thorough review with the project partners, new levels were defined and documented in D2.3 (Willemsen, 2022):
• Platooning Support Function (PSF): the driver is responsible for the driving task. Hence (s)he is also responsible to choose a safe following distance and monitor the system e.g. whether the right platooning partner is being followed (though supported by the system as much as possible). To give the driver sufficient time to react, minimum time gaps around 1.5 s have to be respected. The Platooning support function is a longitudinal control function, but lateral driver assistance systems, such as e.g. lane centring, might be optionally available as well,
• Platooning Autonomous Function (PAF): The lead truck has a driver responsible for the driving task, but the following trucks are fully automated, i.e. the system performs the complete driving task within the specified (limited) operational design domain. Taking the driver(s) out-of-the-loop offers the possibility to reduce time gaps to a minimum of 0.3 s.
The Platooning Support Function has been implemented, tested and evaluated in the project. Inside this deliverable, besides the requirements and specifications for the Platooning Support Function, all the feedbacks and lessons learned after the final 7-brand test at IDIADA in September, on all the aspects of the Platooning Support Function (requirements, specifications, platooning protocol and communication security), are included. The project also aims to provide a future vision of platooning to accelerate and initiate research and development into next levels of platooning and (digital) infrastructure, and to reflect on potential future needs for adaptation of regulations. For this reason, the second level, i.e. the Platooning Autonomous Function, is also specified. However, the specification of the Platooning Autonomous Function and its use cases is solely done on theoretical considerations to sketch a future perspective of platooning. The latter is also due to the low technology readiness level (TRL) of certain required autonomous driving subfunctions at the time of writing. The white-label truck concept is introduced as a vehicle that collects all the common features among different OEMs. It is for this truck that the specifications are made; only for the tactical layer (this deliverable). Requirements are formulated for the operational layer, as the implementation will be brand specific.
Chapter 1 - gives a background overview, aim and structure of this report; and relation to the other work packages.
Chapter 2 - focuses on the Platooning Support Function. All the requirements and specifications linked to this level are listed here.
Chapter 3 – gives some reflections on the Platooning Support Function following the 7-Brands test in IDIADA, Barcelona
Chapter 4 – focuses on the Platooning Autonomous Function. All the requirements and specifications linked to this level are listed here.
Chapter 5 – Includes the conclusions of this deliverable followed by the references (chapter 6).
Apart from being a reference for the specifications and requirements of the white-label truck, this final deliverable is also an important input for WP6, where the requirements are consolidated towards pre-standards and recommendations and guidelines for future policy and regulatory frameworks for the wide scale implementation of multi-brand platooning.